Neb. Bill to Require Autism Coverage Advances

Posted 11 months ago

By Associated Press

Sen. Colby Coash

(AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require insurance companies to offer coverage for autism therapy.

The measure won first-round approval on Wednesday after several failed attempts to attach it to other bills in the final days of this year’s session. The sponsor, Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, said earlier this week that he wasn’t going to drop the issue even though the bill’s prospects looked bleak.

The proposal would allow for up to 25 hours per week of covered therapy, until the insured person turns 21 years old.

It also would also end a 2015 sunset date for a law that allows coverage for oral cancer drugs, and require coverage to pay for a special formula that treats a rare children’s digestive disorder.